The Minnesota state senator, who, alongside his wife, was one of the initial victims in a June shooting rampage that claimed a fellow lawmaker’s life, has been discharged from intensive care.
Sen. John Hoffman has exited a hospital ICU, confirmed by his wife, Yvette Hoffman, who herself was released five days after receiving treatment for injuries from the June 14 incident, as she noted on Monday.
Bess Ellenson, a spokesperson for the couple, said in a statement, “I can confirm John is out of the ICU and at a rehab facility.”
Ellenson sent a photo provided by Yvette Hoffman showing her husband smiling as he stands and gives a thumbs-up.
Minnesota’s NBC affiliate KARE reports that the rehabilitation center is an acute care facility where Hoffman will stay for several weeks. He is also set to have multiple surgeries, based on the station’s information.
The senator, who lives in Champlin, about 20 miles north of central Minneapolis, was shot nine times, family members and officials have said, after he lunged at the gunman claiming to be a police officer at his front door.
Yvette, who was at her husband’s side, was also struck multiple times by gunfire. Daughter Hope closed and locked the door and called 911 as the gunman fled, the family said.
Hope’s report helped lead police to two other residences occupied by fellow Democratically affiliated leaders in the Twin Cities region whom the suspect is alleged to have targeted.
The shooter was able to open fire on state Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark Hortman, who were killed in their home just after police arrived, authorities said.
Vance Boelter, 57, of Green Isle, Minnesota, was charged in U.S. District Court with stalking and murdering Hortman and her husband, in addition to stalking and shooting Hoffman and his wife.
The U.S. attorney for Minnesota, Joe Thompson, called the attacks “targeted political assassinations,” though only one of the lawmakers was ultimately killed.
Hortman and Hoffman are members of the state’s Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party.
